Fundraiser Stories: Giro d’Willtalia, Heat, History, and Heart - Update

On August 1st, Will Jackson-Moore clipped in for the first pedal strokes of Giro d’Willtalia. Alongside him, friends who knew this would be hard, but maybe didn’t know just how hard. They ride for three causes that mean everything to them:

Harrison’s Fund – expert clinical psychology support for families living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Cancer Research UK – funding life-saving cancer research.

Herts Young Homeless – breaking the cycle of youth homelessness in Hertfordshire

This is not a Sunday spin. It’s hundreds of kilometres a day in punishing heat, up mountains that test every fibre of muscle and mind. And in true Giro d’Italia style, each day carries its own drama.

Day 1 – Campione d’Italia to Novara Thunderstorms shook the hotel in the night. “We could hear the rain hammering down at 3 a.m.,” said Will, “and all I could think was, perfect start!” By the time they rolled out, the rain had stopped but the roads were slick. They hugged the shorelines of the Italian lakes under low clouds, finding their rhythm. In 1968, a 22-year-old Eddy Merckx shocked everyone by taking the Maglia Rosa straight away, unheard of in a Grand Tour.

Day 2 – Novara to St Vincent 188km in baking sun, with the Col de Joux looming late in the stage. The climb hit harder than expected. “Someone said it was ‘gentle.’ Someone lied,” joked one of the riders. They wore their Cancer Research UK jerseys proudly. In ’68, Gianni Motta won here, but Merckx clung to pink by seconds.

Day 3 – St Vincent to Alba 170km of rolling roads, a chance to spin easy and recover. They stopped for espresso in a small piazza, locals offering cheers and bemused looks at the matching kits. In the race’s history, this was a day for sprinters . Guido Reybrouck took the stage, and Michele Dancelli grabbed the leader’s jersey.

Day 4 – Alba to San Remo In Harrison’s Fund kit, the team crossed into Liguria. The scent of saltwater drifted in as they approached San Remo. “Seeing the sea after days inland felt like a reward,” said one rider. In 1968, Ward Sels won here, but Dancelli stayed in pink.

Day 5 – San Remo Loops Three brutal climbs in 30°C heat. Every summit came with a fast descent… followed by another climb. 3,100m in total. “We were melting,” Will admitted. “Even the descents felt hot.” That year, Italo Zilioli claimed a home win here over Merckx.

Day 6 – San Remo to Alessandria 223km along the Ligurian coast, then inland in 34°C. Midway, a local shopkeeper refilled their bottles for free. “She insisted we take extra fruit. I’ve never been so grateful for a peach in my life,” laughed one teammate. In the 1968 Giro, José Antonio Momeñe won, and Dancelli’s lead grew.

Day 7 – Alessandria to Piacenza The Passo del Penice was the highlight. Smooth tarmac, stunning views. “Best descent so far,” came the unanimous verdict. The road temperature hit 37°C, making every flat section feel like an oven. In ’68, Guerrino Tosello was first to the line on this day.

Day 8 – San Giorgio Piacentino to Brescia This one had everything, missing bridges, overgrown paths, and Monte Maddalena’s brutal gravel climbs. “We were swearing at the road, then laughing at ourselves, then swearing again,” Will said. In history, this was where Merckx took the stage win, inching closer to pink.

Day 9 – Brescia to Lago di Caldonazzo The “furnace day” — 214km, 3,600m climbing. Monte Bondone in full sun was punishing. Passo del Compet was cooler, and the descent into the lake was a blissful reward. “I don’t think I’ve ever been that happy to see water,” one rider said. In 1968, Julio Jiménez triumphed here.

Day 10 – Repeat of the Beast Same course as Day 9, but no easier. “The climbs felt steeper. The sun felt hotter. The coffee felt weaker,” joked one team member.

Day 11 – Bassano del Grappa to Trieste Only 300m of climbing, but 197km in 40°C. The vineyards looked idyllic, but the heat stripped away any romance. By the Adriatic, the team was drained but relieved. In the Giro’s past, Guido Reybrouck sprinted to victory here, Dancelli still in control of the race.

The Reality Off the Bike

Evenings are simple, food, showers, bike checks, sleep. There’s little energy for sightseeing. Sometimes there’s laughter over dinner. Sometimes silence while plates are cleared. Every morning starts the same: creak of pedals, click of cleats, and the road stretching ahead.

They know they’re riding for more than themselves. For families living with Duchenne, for people battling cancer, for young people without a safe home.

You Can Keep Them Going

The toughest days are still to come. Your support fuels not just the work of three charities, but the will to push through every hot, hilly kilometre.

Support them through Just Giving here: www.willtalia.org

Photo credits and Giro history @simonmtnguide